‘Xbox 720’ and ‘PS4’ due in 2013 says EA CEO

It’s hard to tell when the next generation of consoles will arrive from Microsoft and Sony. Neither company has copped to production of an ‘Xbox 720’ or ‘PS4’ next generation console at this point. However, EA CEO John Riccitiello recently told CNBC that he expects them in 2013.

Riccitiello’s expectations are in-line with what is quickly becoming the general expectation of consumers awaiting new next-gen consoles. Expecting the launch of the ‘Xbox 720’ and ‘PS4’ to bolster EA’s fledgling stock price, Riccitiello told CNBC that their launches would be “a major catalyst” for the company.

“A major catalyst going forward, and the most important catalyst going forward is visibility on next-generation console, because that NPD data – that minus 10-25% that you’ve been seeing – that can and should be reversed out and some point, probably starting next year.”

While Riccitiello’s forward looking statements about the next-gen should be enough to get your hopes up, he’s not the only one that’s expecting a 2013 release date for new consoles. During the release of the company’s quarterly financials back in May, EA revealed that it would be investing nearly 100 million dollars into the ‘PS4’, ‘Xbox 720’, and Wii U consoles.